🌱 Five-Year Comprehensive Plan Update + New Traffic Lights

Morning, Baton Rouge! I'm back with your new edition of the Baton Rouge Patch newsletter. Keep reading for everything you need to know about what's happening around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Partly sunny. High: 92 Low: 68.
• Sunday: Clouds and sun. High: 94 Low: 69.

From our sponsor:

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Here are the top four stories today in Baton Rouge:

1. The Baton Rouge City-Parish Planning Commission is launching a five-year update of its comprehensive master plan, FUTUREBR. Community members are encouraged to take part in the update process by attending one of the six open house events taking place throughout the city and parish or by taking the online survey. Find the dates, times, and locations of each public workshop here. (WAFB)
2. After obtaining search warrants for locations in Baton Rouge and Prairieville, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office narcotics agents seized one ounce of cocaine, 3,000 pressed fentanyl pills, more than 20 pounds of marijuana, and more than $80,000, according to a report. The alleged distributor was identified as Bernard Kinchen, with whom the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office's agents conducted several undercover purchases of pills. (Weekly Citizen)
3. After changing ownership, Baton Rouge's Magpie Cafe will be undergoing a few changes. The new owners, Kyle and Taylor Wilkinson, have been regulars at the coffee shop for years and said they plan on keeping the cafe "largely the same," while adding savory menu items and remaining open on Mondays. (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)
4. The Baton Rouge area is currently in the process of getting new traffic lights that feature flashing yellow turn signals. As part of a larger project to replace all of Louisiana's traffic lights with new ones, over 220 lights have already been installed in the first phase. Phase one is set to be completed in September, with phase two set to see around 350 lights installed by June 2024, and phase three to replace lights at 73 more intersections. (Greater Baton Rouge Business Report)

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Today and tomorrow in Baton Rouge:

Saturday, June 3

• Painted Canvas Tote Bag Grab & Geaux At East Baton Rouge Parish Library Central Branch (All Day)
• Levitt AMP Baton Rouge Free Live Music At Scotlandville Plaza (5:00 PM)

Sunday, June 4

• Free First Sunday At LSU Museum Of Art (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This news will make you wanna bend and snap — Legally Blonde is opening at Theatre Baton Rouge in a little less than two weeks on Friday, Jun. 16. Tickets are selling fast, but you can grab some here for one of the performances while the show is in town through Sunday, Jun. 25. (Theatre Baton Rouge via Facebook)
• The Baton Rouge Metro Airport now offers a nonstop flight to Washington, DC via American Airlines. The inaugural flight connecting the two cities took place on Thursday, Jun. 1. (Visit Baton Rouge via Facebook)
• Registration for the Coastal Conservation Association Louisiana's Ride the Bull tournament is now open. The annual kayaking tournament will take place on Saturday, Aug. 26. Register here. (CCA Louisiana via Facebook)
• At its annual festival celebrating the halfway mark to Halloween, the 10/31 Consortium — a locally based, Halloween-themed charity and krewe — announced the theme for its the 2023 Fifolet Halloween Festival: "13 Fears and Phobias." You can find tickets, participation opportunities, and more information here. (The Advocate)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. See you all soon for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.